by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Two weeks ago, Sheriff John Rutherford was “mad as hell.”
The City Council Finance Committee had trimmed his budget by 3 percent, a figure that went beyond the 12 percent he cut prior to appearing before the committee Sept. 3
Rutherford said he’d have to lay off 130 people and eliminate the Community Service Officer program and the 92 people it employs. He also wouldn’t be able to use federal funding to hire an additional 50 officers. Instead, that money would go towards keeping 50 officers.
Today, Rutherford’s mood is lighter and he has only two hurdles left before he can enter the 2009-10 fiscal year operating under a budget that only saw minor cuts: tonight’s full Council meeting and public hearing on the proposed budget and the Sept. 29 Council vote.
“Yes, as much as you can be,” said Rutherford when asked if he was happy about the decision to save the jobs and the CSO programs.
That decision was based on several meetings Rutherford conducted with various members of Council since Sept. 4. Yesterday, Council President Richard Clark met with Council Vice President Jack Webb, Finance Chair Stephen Joost and Mayor John Peyton to iron out some of the final details of the city’s budget and talk about the differences that are left. The standing room only meeting had several members of the media, the Council Auditor’s Office, members of Peyton’s staff, several Council aides and a handful of curious onlookers in attendance. When all was said and done, the mayor’s office and Council are about $1.4 million apart. And, Rutherford’s budget is virtually intact.
“It’s a good day for public safety,” said Rutherford, who said he met with the public to talk about his situation and encouraged citizens to contact their Council representatives.
“I think the people made their voice heard,” he said. “The mayor’s office did their job. The City Council did its job. The Finance Committee did its job. I did mine. The key is the process worked. We found the cuts without hurting public safety.”
Clark said he and Peyton have worked closely over the past few weeks despite their ideological differences. They both concede, however, the process wasn’t easy and the trimming is something that will have continue through at least next year’s budget process.
“The mayor and I obviously worked through the process,” said Clark. “We are closer to the end of the journey and we are trying to wrap some things together. This is not a one-year deal. We constantly have to be mindful of what’s coming. We do not want to live through this again.”
As the end of the budget process nears, Clark did say he’s upbeat over the fact the city is spending less during the current fiscal year than last year.
“I am not sure that has ever happened,” he said. “Our operating expenses are $1 million less.”
Peyton likened the budget to getting a consensus in Washington, D.C. where having the Senate and Congress agree on something can be tricky.
“The budget process was exhausting and difficult and unpleasant at times, but necessary,” said Peyton, explaining the goal was to save the taxpayers money while moving the city in a positive direction. “Is the process perfect? Probably not. Can you make everybody happy? Never.”
The single biggest difference left between the administration and Clark is the Inspector General’s Office, which Finance voted to eliminate completely.
“There is strong disagreement here,” said Peyton, who favors keeping Inspector General Pam Markham and her staff while Clark favors eliminating the department. “I have strong feelings we should have one. I think it’s a best practice for any organization this size to have an internal auditor.”
Council member Kevin Hyde said he supports the idea of an Inspector General while Council Vice President Jack Webb thinks the department should be moved out from under the mayor’s and, perhaps, report equitably to the Council and mayor’s office. It’s likely the budget ordinance will be drafted with Markham’s department omitted. However, Hyde said he will introduce a floor amendment to have it added.
Peyton said he approves making the department more independent and is “completely open and receptive to good suggestions” regarding the department.
Tonight’s meeting starts at 5 p.m. in Council Chambers and is open to the public. It also serves as a state-mandated public hearing on the proposed budget.
356-2466